How to Get a Refund for App Store and iTunes Purchases

This guide walks you through the process of requesting a refund for purchases made on the App Store, iTunes Store, Apple Books, or other Apple media services. You’ll need your Apple ID and the ability to sign in to Apple’s reportaproblem.apple.com website or the corresponding section in your device’s settings. The process works for apps, in-app purchases, music, movies, TV shows, books, and subscriptions, though approval is not guaranteed.

What You’ll Need

Your Apple ID email and password (or the device you use to sign in with Face ID/Touch ID).
The email receipt Apple sent for the purchase, or access to your purchase history in Settings or the App Store.
A web browser on any device, or your iPhone/iPad with the App Store app.
The specific item(s) you want refunded – you can look these up in your purchase history.

Step-by-Step

Go to Apple’s problem report page. Open a browser and visit reportaproblem.apple.com. This is the official portal for all Apple media refund requests.
Sign in with your Apple ID. Enter your Apple ID email and password. If you use two-factor authentication, confirm the code sent to your trusted device. You can also use “Sign in with Apple” if you set that up.
Choose the reason for the request. You’ll see a list of your recent purchases. Above the list, there’s a drop-down menu labeled “What can we help you with?”. Select the most fitting option, such as “I didn’t mean to purchase this” or “The app doesn’t work as expected”.
Find the item you want refunded. Scroll through the list of purchases. You can filter by product type (apps, music, movies, etc.) using the tabs or search bar. Tap or click the round “Report a Problem” button next to the specific item. If you don’t see the item, click “More…” at the bottom of the list to load older purchases.
Select a specific issue. A new page or pop-up will appear asking for more detail. Choose the sub‑reason that best matches your situation. For example, for an accidental purchase, select “I didn’t mean to purchase this”. For a technical issue, select “The app doesn’t work as expected” and then describe the problem.
Write a brief explanation (optional but helpful). In the text box, explain what happened in one or two sentences. Be factual and polite. For instance: “I accidentally tapped the buy button while the app was loading.” This helps the reviewer understand your case.
Submit the request. Click the “Submit” or “Send” button. You’ll see a confirmation that your request was received.
Wait for Apple’s response. Apple typically reviews requests within 24–48 hours, but it can take up to a few days. You’ll receive an email from Apple confirming the decision. If approved, the refund goes back to your original payment method, usually within a few business days (up to 30 days for some bank cards).
Check the status. You can return to reportaproblem.apple.com at any time and sign in to see the status of your request. It will show “Pending”, “Approved”, or “Denied”.

Common Mistakes

Requesting a refund for a subscription after the free trial ended. Apple usually only refunds subscriptions if you cancel them and request a refund within a short window (often a few days after the charge).
Choosing the wrong item. Make sure you select the exact purchase. If you bought a bundle or a season pass, you may need to request a refund for the entire bundle, not individual episodes.
Using the wrong Apple ID. Sign in with the Apple ID that made the purchase. If you have multiple accounts, check your email receipts for the correct one.
Asking for a refund for a gift card purchase. Apple does not refund gift card purchases made through the App Store or iTunes. Those are handled by the retailer where the card was bought.
Not providing enough detail. A vague “I want my money back” is less likely to succeed than a clear explanation, especially for technical issues.

Tips

Act quickly. The sooner you request a refund after the purchase, the better. Apple’s system is more lenient with recent transactions.
Use the “Report a Problem” link in your email receipt. Apple sends a receipt to your email for every purchase. That email contains a direct link to reportaproblem.apple.com, which pre‑selects the item.
For subscriptions, cancel first. If you want a refund for a subscription, cancel the subscription first (in Settings > your name > Subscriptions) so you don’t get charged again. Then request the refund for the past charge.
Be honest. Only request a refund if you have a legitimate reason. Repeated false claims can lead to your account being flagged.
Check your bank statement. If the refund is approved but you don’t see it after a week, contact your bank or card issuer – sometimes it takes a few extra days to appear.

Troubleshooting

The item doesn’t appear in the list. Make sure you’re signed in with the correct Apple ID. If it’s still missing, click “More…” at the bottom of the list to load older purchases. If it’s a family member’s purchase, you may need to use their Apple ID (or the family organizer can request it).
The “Report a Problem” button is grayed out. This usually means the item is not eligible for self‑service refunds (e.g., some in‑app purchases). In that case, you can contact Apple Support directly via getsupport.apple.com and chat or call.
You get an error when submitting. Try a different browser or clear your cookies. Also ensure you have a stable internet connection. If the issue persists, wait a few hours and try again.
Your request was denied. You can submit a new request with more detail, or contact Apple Support for a manual review. Sometimes a human reviewer will approve what the automated system rejected.
Refund approved but not in your account after 30 days. Contact your bank or payment provider. Apple has already sent the refund; the delay is on the financial institution’s side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund for an in-app purchase? Yes, you can request a refund for in-app purchases through the same reportaproblem.apple.com process. However, Apple is stricter with consumable items (like game currency) than with non‑consumable ones.

How long does a refund take to appear? After approval, refunds typically appear within 3–5 business days for credit cards, but can take up to 30 days depending on your bank. Apple Pay and iTunes Store credit often refund faster.

Can I get a refund for a movie or music I already watched/listened to? Possibly, but it’s less likely. Apple may approve if there was a technical issue (e.g., the movie wouldn’t play). Simply not liking it is usually not a valid reason.

What if I bought something with a gift card? If you used an Apple Gift Card or iTunes Store credit, the refund goes back to your Apple ID balance, not to a bank card. If you bought a physical gift card, that’s not refundable through Apple.

Can I get a refund for a subscription I forgot to cancel? Yes, you can request a refund for the most recent charge. Apple often approves these if you cancel the subscription at the same time. You can cancel in Settings > your name > Subscriptions.

Is there a limit to how many refunds I can get? Apple doesn’t publish a specific number, but they do monitor for abuse. If you request refunds frequently, they may start denying them or flag your account.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →